The signing of Anthony Gordon does not change FC Barcelona’s major attacking plan. According to Samuel Marsden, club sources insist his arrival is not linked to a potential centre-forward signing. Julián Álvarez and João Pedro remain among the blaugrana targets for this market.
The operation for Gordon responds to a specific need on the left wing. El País reported that Barça closed a deal worth €70 million plus €10 million in variables. The player would sign for five seasons after negotiations accelerated by Deco in London.
Cadena SER also made clear that Barça’s objective remains a striker. On El Larguero, Nil Solá explained that Gordon does not mean giving up on a centre-forward. In fact, he placed Julián and João Pedro as the names still high on the list.
Gordon arrives for another role
Barça see Gordon as a player capable of bringing immediate energy to the attack. El País highlights that he can play as a left winger and also offer alternatives as a centre-forward. However, inside the club, they do not interpret him as the structural number nine for the next project.
That difference is key to understanding Deco’s planning this summer. Gordon brings pace, pressing, depth and aggression to compete from the left side. But Robert Lewandowski’s departure demands another profile capable of leading the box for years.
Cadena SER explained that Hansi Flick wanted an aggressive winger with physical effort and movement. Gordon fits that mould very well, especially because of his intensity and arrival. Even so, the centre-forward position still needs a specific answer.
Julián and João Pedro remain alive
Julián Álvarez continues to be one of Barça’s great dreams for the striker position. His mobility, pressing, goals and ability to combine fit very well with Flick. The major problem remains Atlético Madrid, who will not facilitate any cheap operation.
João Pedro appears as another highly valued alternative for the blaugrana sporting department. ESPN already reported that the Chelsea Brazilian was an option if Julián did not arrive. His profile is liked because he combines technique, youth, mobility and room to grow in Europe.
Gordon’s signing, therefore, does not close either of those attacking files. On the contrary, it could help organise the attack better and allow Barça to study the number nine position more calmly. Barça want a winger and also want a top-level centre-forward.
Rashford is left in a delicate position
The big victim of this reading could be Marcus Rashford, not necessarily Julián or João Pedro. El País points out that Gordon’s arrival affects the future of the Englishman loaned from Manchester United. Although Flick valued his continuity, the sporting department see Gordon as a more strategic bet.
Marsden also points out that Gordon would not automatically rule out a Rashford return, although it would be unlikely. That sentence sums up the scenario well: Barça are not eliminating options, but they are prioritising resources. With Gordon in, Rashford loses strength; the number nine, however, remains a priority.
The club will have to combine sporting ambition with a still very demanding economic structure. Gordon already represents a powerful investment, but Barça want to keep attacking the market. The key will be sales, Financial Fair Play and the ability to convince the chosen striker.
Deco keeps the roadmap
Deco does not interpret the attack as a single operation, but as a complete rebuild. Gordon covers the left wing, raises competition and adds an important physical variant. Julián or João Pedro would be the piece truly designed to replace Lewandowski.
Barça want to avoid the idea that one operation automatically cancels the other. That is why they internally insist on separating Gordon’s arrival from the centre-forward debate. The message is clear: the Englishman is not the end of the market, but the beginning.
The summer can still move a lot, especially if important exits happen in the squad. Gordon arrives to strengthen the present and open a new attacking route. But the big move is still pending: Barça still want to close a top number nine.
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